• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Trailkeeper.org | Hiking in New York | Sullivan County Catskills

Trailkeeper.org | Hiking in New York | Sullivan County Catskills

Hiking information for the Catskill Mountains of Sullivan County New York

  • Trails
    • All Trails
    • SUNY Sullivan Trails
      • SUNY Sullivan: Woodland Trail
      • Suny Sullivan: Connector Trial
      • SUNY Sullivan: Athletics Trail
      • SUNY Sullivan: Farm and Garden Trail
      • SUNY Sullivan: Lightbulb Loop
      • SUNY Sullivan: College Road Walk
      • SUNY Sullivan: Solar Stroll Trail
    • Sullivan O & W Rail Trail
    • Easy Trails
    • County, State and National Parks
    • The Region
    • Suggest a New Trail
    • Be a Trailkeeper
  • Hiking 101
    • Reasons to Go Hiking
    • Hiking for Health
    • Hiking Safety Information
    • Hiking Etiquette
    • Hiking Levels
    • Choosing Hiking Gear
    • Guide to Public Lands
  • What’s Nearby
  • Calendar
  • Blog

Mongaup River Trail

January 28, 2013 by Trailkeeper

hike

DELAWARE RIVER REGION TRAIL

Upper Delaware Take a Hike! Trail

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.42708 W74.75531

Getting There: The parking area is located on Route 97 at the intersection with CR-31 (Upper Mongaup Road). The parking area is just northeast of this intersection near a bridge over the Mongaup River.

Difficulty: This hike is rated EASY because it is relatively flat and short. There may be wet or muddy areas along the way. Be careful if you chose to walk down to the stream bed as it the “path” is steep and it is easy to slip.

Trail Surface. The trail surface is free of large stones and tree trunks consisting mostly of small stones and dirt. The trail is may be wet and muddy.

Hike Description: The trail leaves the right side of the parking area as a flat gravel path paralleling the river. The trail is easy to walk and easy to follow. In a few places it splits to go around some bushes and then unites just after. You may want to drop down to the water’s edge to get a view of the river. The trail remains easy to follow and relatively flat and well maintained for the entire length. Continue to the end of the trail where you will find an old cemetery to the right of the trail. The engraving on the stones is weathered and hard to read but one date is “1882”. Turn around to walk back to your car the way you came.

41.42708 -74.75531

Mongaup Valley WMA

June 30, 2012 by adcSTUDIO

Eagle Viewing at Mongaup Wildlife Management Area

Mongaup Wildlife Management Area

The Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area comprises nearly 13,000 acres of land, about half of which are open for public access, so there are a number of other outdoor recreational opportunities. It’s a great place to view eagles, and there are prime fishing opportunities. Camping is prohibited here, and watch out for the restricted areas through the winter which are set up to protect wintering bald eagles.

Be sure to check out the Rules and Regulations that are posted at eagle viewing sites. The Mongaup Valley WMA also contains the Mongaup Valley Bird Conservation Area and a series of reservoirs (Rio Reservoir, Mongaup Falls Reservoir and Swinging Bridge Reservoir), along with Mongaup River and creeks. As noted on the NYSDEC map, there are a series of boat launch ramps, car top boat launches, parking areas and eagle viewing sites.

There are no marked hiking trails located within this State Land, but check out the NYS DEC map of the Mongaup Wildlife Management Area.

The Rio Reservoir is a great place to fish as well as an excellent place to spot bald eagles. Gas motors are not allowed here, and ice fishing is prohibited because of the bald eagle population in the winter.

Rio has no marked trails. NOTE: This is a strenuous, nonmarked hike through the woods that may be slippery; attempt at the hiker’s own risk.The middle of Rio is bisected by private property. As a consequence, most trails end at the reservoir or cross private property. When the gas-line went through the Rio, the NYSDEC had the gas company build a parking lot with a NYSDEC billboard\kiosk. The parking lot is just past the Eagle Viewing Blind on Mongaup Falls Reservoir, about a mile up on the left. As of yet there are no trails. Game trails can be followed at the hiker’s own risk.

About 100 yards from the parking lot is a stream bed. Turn left at the stream: It can be followed through an incredibly beautiful ravine all the way to a magnificent waterfall (the Mongaup Falls).

DIRECTIONS: Mongaup Valley WMA is located in the towns of Forestburgh and Lumberland (also located in the Town of Deerpark, Orange County, NY). The Main Eagle Viewing Pavilion is located on Forestburgh Rd. Glen Spey/Forestburgh, NY. However, for additional parking areas check out the map provided by the NYSDEC. From Monticello, head onto State Route 42 South heading towards Forestburgh for about 9 miles. Then turn right onto County Rd 43/Forestburgh Rd (There is a small white building on the left hand side of the turn) Drive down this road (you will pass the Forestburgh Playhouse). Drive for approximately 2 miles. You will then come across a few different access points.

 

 

41.667674930991 -74.784435738623

Neversink Unique Area

June 30, 2012 by adcSTUDIO

bird (2)

SHAWANGUNK REGION TRAIL

Sign for the Neversink Unique Area

 

Hiker at Neversink Unique Area

 

 

Check out the links below for more detailed trail info

The Neversink River Unique Area, also called the Neversink Gorge, is 4,881 acres of beautiful land. It is a great place for hiking and fishing, but camping is not allowed.

There are a number of access points and trails. However, only the Katrina Falls Rd Access and the Cold Spring Road Access points have maintained parking and maintained trails. The other access points are difficult to get to. Also, there currently is no way to hike from the Katrina Falls Rd Access trails to the Cold Spring Rd Access Trails (and vice versa)

For more information on the Neversink Unique Area, check out the NY-NJ Trail Conference Map.

DIRECTIONS: To the Katrina Falls Rd. Parking Area: Located at the end of the Katrina Falls Rd (a dead end road) in the hamlet of Rock Hill (located within the Town of Thompson). From NYS Rt 17 East, get off exit 109 and make a right onto Rock Hill Drive, then make your first right onto Katrina Falls Road (Dutch’s Tavern is on the right hand side). Follow Katrina Falls Rd all the way until the end. The parking area will be on your left. Park and then walk down the gravel road to reach the sign in sheet and trails.

From NYS Rt. 17 West, get off exit 109 and make a right onto Katrina Falls Road. Follow Katrina Falls Rd all the way until the end. The parking area will be on your left. Park and then walk down the gravel road to reach the sign in sheet and trails.

DIRECTIONS: To the Cold Spring Rd. Parking Area: Located on Cold Spring Rd in the Town of Forestburgh. From NYS Rt 17 East or West, get off Exit 105 (for Monticello) which will bring you onto Rt 42. Follow Rt 42 and make a Right at the traffic light at the end of the road. After making the right you will continue into Rt 42. Make a left at the 2nd Traffic light onto St John’s Street. After app. 1/2 mile, St John’s Street turns into Cold Spring Rd. Follow Cold Spring Rd. for app. 7 miles. The parking area will be located on your left hand side.

41.8552102175 -74.5578574863

Painter Hill MUA

June 30, 2012 by adcSTUDIO

 

 

 

SHAWANGUNK REGION TRAIL

GPS - Sign for Painter Hill MUA

The Painter Hill Multiple Use Area is very overgrown and unmaintained. The markings on trees are not visible.

Directions: From Route 17, take exit 113 for Route 209; turn right onto Route 209 north; drive 8.6 miles and turn left (0.1 of a mile into Ulster County and just before the sign for the Town of Warwasing) and then a quick right onto Phillipsport Road; drive 3.6 miles (keep going straight from Phillipsport Road onto Mountaindale Road) and turn right onto Aldrich Road; drive 1.5 miles and turn right onto Painter Hill Road; drive less than one block and turn left into the parking area. (If on Mountaindale Road you reach Tomsco Falls, with the falls on the left, you have gone way too far.) Source: https://nynjctbotany.org/whudson/painterhill.html

41.686215695284 -74.484153430688

Parksville Rail Trail

May 15, 2013 by Trailkeeper

snowshoe hike bike horseback

 

 

 

Parksville Rail Trail 

Parksville RT

This rustic unpaved trail, just over three miles in length, runs along a route formerly used by the New York, Ontario, & Western Railway’s Main Line through Parksville in Sullivan County, NY. The Parksville Rail Trail’s primary trailhead is located on Main Street, one block west of NY State Route 17 at Exit 98 in Parksville, NY.

The trail is broken by one street crossing; Fox Mountain Road. The segment between Main Street and Fox Mountain Road is the roughest. Surface conditions from Fox Mountain Road northwest until the Trail’s end point (when you come to the “No Trespassing” signs and a gate) are smoother and free of all standing water and mud.

Ample designated trail user parking is available right on Main Street.Parking is also available on Benton Hollow Road near Fox Mountain Road should you decide that you want to do just the more “user friendly” trail segment. There is no parking available at the northern most trailhead.

DIRECTIONS

From the Eastern side of Sullivan County, travel on route 17 West and take the exit Short Ave. in Liberty, NY. Turn right onto Short Ave. off the exit and take the 2nd left onto Old Route 17. Turn right onto Fox Mountain Road.

DIRECTIONS

From Cochecton, NY head NorthWest toward Co Rd 114/Newburgh Turnpike. Turn right onto Co Rd 114/Newburgh Turnpike. Continue onto NY-97 N. Take slight right onto Co Rd 114. Turn left onto NY-17B W/NY-52 E/State Rte 17B W/Co Rd 117 W/Rt 17B W/State Rt 17B W/St Rt 17B W. Continue to follow NY-52E. Turn right to say on NY-52E. Turn left onto Co Rd 145/Dahlia Rd.Turn right onto Golub Hill Rd. Turn right onto Fox Mountain Rd

 

41.86115 -74.78372

Red Hill

May 25, 2016 by TrailkeeperEditor

 
Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.9296 W74.5070

Getting There: Drive to the Sullivan County hamlet of Grahamsville, NY. Turn north onto Rt. 55A in near the Rondout Reservoir. After about 2.25 miles, look for Sugarloaf Rd. on your left. Turn left on Sugarloaf Road and continue for about 4 miles. Watch for Red Hill Road. on the left. Make this sharp turn and Dinch or Coons Rd. will be on your right almost immediately after the turn. Continue on this road for a little over one mile. The road is not paved. It is a dead end and becomes rough enough that an SUV or a pickup might be a good idea. Watch for a short access road on the left to the small parking area.

Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE even though it is only 2.6 miles because there is an elevation gain of 840 feet. The trail is steep in places and on the final climb to the summit averages a 20% grade!

Trail Surface: The trail consists of areas of mostly packed dirt and stones of various sizes. The trail can be rough and eroded in places. There are tree roots to walk around and larger rocks to step over.

Hike Description: Out and Back
Start your hike by walking behind the kiosk and getting on the yellow blazed trail. After about .55 miles the slope increases slightly and increases again at .75 miles. After about 1.3 miles, you are at the summit. There isn’t much to see from clearing at the summit unless you climb the fire tower which has some nice views. After taking in the views and visiting the small observer’s cabin, reverse your route back to the parking area.

41.9296 -74.507
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Partners

This project is assisted by a grant from the Upper Delaware Council, Narrowsburg, NY 12764. Additional funding from the Sullivan County Plans and Progress Grant Program.

Learn more about our partners

More Information

  • About Us
  • Partner Organizations
  • FAQs
  • Join a Hiking Club
  • Links
  • National Park Service
  • NY/NJ Trail Conference
  • Contact

© 2025 Copyright Catskill Trailkeeper. All rights reserved.    |    Website by B. Martin Studio